Raptors break Game 1 curse

It took 17 years, but the Toronto Raptors’ woeful Game 1 losing streak is over.

Serge Ibaka scored 23 points and had 12 rebounds, while DeMar DeRozan added 17 points and six assists, and the Raptors beat the Washington Wizards 114-106 in Saturday’s Game 1 of the Eastern Conference playoffs. It is the first time the Raptors have won a playoff opener since 2001.

Delon Wright had 18 points, while rookie OG Anunoby and C.J. Miles scored 12 apiece, and Kyle Lowry finished with 11 points and nine assists for the Raptors, who were missing backup guard Fred VanVleet, who bruised his shoulder Wednesday in Miami.

John Wall had 21 points and 15 assists to lead Washington, while Markieff Morris added 22 points and 11 rebounds, and Bradley Beal finished with 19.

The Raptors had the unfortunate league record for consecutive Game 1 losses (10) and had dropped all but one of the 13 previous playoff openers, beating Philadelphia in the second round in 2001.

“We got Game 1, as we should,” DeRozan said.

“We’ve been great at home all year, and that’s something we’ve worked for and gained that reputation from the beginning of the season, how we ended up playing at the end of the season, so we already had that in our minds. On home court, we’re supposed to win. That’s our mindset.”